page_title: Kenneth J. Gray
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Kenneth J. Gray / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: General Dwight D. Eisenhower addresses American paratroopers prior to D-Day. "Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the Day. 'Full victory-nothing else' to paratroopers in England, just before they board their airplanes to participate in the first assault in the invasion of the continent of Europe." Eisenhower is meeting with US Co. E, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (Strike) of the 101st Airborne Division, photo taken at Greenham Common Airfield in England about 8:30 p.m. on June 5, 1944. The General was talking about fly fishing with his men as he always did before a stressful operation. Memoir by Lt Wallace C. Strobel about this photo (seen wearing the number 23 around his neck): http://www.historyaddict.com/Ike502nd.html
context_page_description: Kenneth James Gray was an American businessman and politician. He was a veteran of World War II, and represented Illinois in the United States House of Representatives from 1955 to 1974, and again from 1985 to 1989.
context_section_description: In January, 1943 Gray enlisted in the Army Air Forces for World War II.  He served as with the Twelfth Air Force in North Africa, with the combat engineers of the Fifth Army in Italy, and again with the Twelfth Air Force in Southern France and elsewhere in Europe.  Gray was an aircraft crew chief and attained the rank of first sergeant before being discharged in December 1945.
  According to the authors of Pass the Plate, a 2009 biography of Gray, he was at the Greenham Common air base in June, 1944 and was assigned as Dwight D. Eisenhower's driver when Eisenhower met with Company E, 502nd Infantry Regiment shortly before the unit boarded planes and departed for the assault on Normandy.  The authors also indicate that Gray can be seen in the well-known photo of Eisenhower speaking with soldiers including First Lieutenant Wallace C. Strobel.
  Gray's awards included the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and World War II Victory Medal.
caption: General Eisenhower addresses soldiers preparing for D-Day assault.  According to Gray's biographers, he is the soldier in visored cap (not helmet) at far left.
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